Refrigerating apparatus



NOV. 16, 1943. M, 1 GQULQQZ 2,334,259

' REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 9, 1940 2 sheets-shawl Qf s l lNvENTOR. Marv-y u. Q01/Lanza BY m am ATTORNEY.

Nov. 16, 1943.

M. J. GoULoozE REFRIGERATING APPARATUS Filed Nov. 9. 1940 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR. UL 0025 ATTORNEY.

WET/1v d C7@ Patented Nov. 16, 17943 BEFRIGERATI'NG APPARATUS Martin J. Goulooze, Grand Rapids, Mich.,a ssign or to Nash-Kelvinator Corporation, Detroit,

Mich., a corporation of Maryland Application November 9, 1940, Serial No. 365,138

2 Claims.

This invention relates to refrigerating `apparatus and more particularly to refrigerator cabinet construction.

This application is a continuation in part of i applicationl filed November 9, 1940, Serial No. 365,136. Y

One of the objects of my invention is to provide an improved arrangement for securing a breaker strip to the metal walls of a refrigerator cabinet. v l

Another object of my invention is to provide an improved arrangement for forming a pocket for the aforesaid breaker strip around the front wall of the cabinet.

- Further objects and advantages` of the present invention will `be apparent from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings. wherein a preferred form of the present invention is clearly shown.

In the drawings: l

Fig. 1 is a front view in elevation of a refrigerator cabinet embodying the invention;

Fig. 2 is a View taken along line 2-2 of Fig. 1:

Fig. 3 is a fragmentaryside view in elevation of the liner or inner shell;

Fig. 4 is a perspective view oi' a clip; Fig. 5 is a bottom plan view of the clip; Fig.,6 is a side elevational view of the clip; Fig. 7 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view l of a comer-of a cabinet and door embodying a modified form of the invention; Y

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view taken .along line 8 8 of Fig. 7;

Fig. 9 is a fragmentary cross-sectional'view taken along line 9-9 of Fig. 8;

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary front elevational view of the cabinet of the modified form with parts broken away and parts shown in section;

Fig. 11 is a fragmentary cross-sectional view` taken along line I l--I l of Fig. 10, and Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view o f a further modified form of constructing the outer shell of the cabinet.

Shown inthe drawings is a refrigerator cabinet 20 of the household type. The cabinet 20 comprisesan inner metal casing, shell. or liner .22 within an outer metal casing. 0r shell 24 with the walls thereof in spaced relation for the interposition of heat insulation material 25 therebetween. The inner shell or liner 22 forms the walls of a food storage compartment 26. Access opening 21 is Vformed in thefront wall to compartment 26 closed by a door 29. v

The outer casing 24 is formed with an inwardly turned portion 30 extending peripherally to the door opening and forms a portion of the front wall of the cabinet. vThe front wall portion 30 is formed with extended metalthat extends reversely, as at 32, to form the frontwall of double wall thickness together with a portional length of the outer side wall, as at 33. The extended portion is turned from the'side wall to form a section v34 in spaced parallel relation to the front wall 3D. A pocket 35 is4 formed between section 34 and the front wall. The section 34 extends a short distance `beyond the edge of the front Wall.

The inner liner or casing 22 is formed with `a lateral flange 31- extending peripherally adjacent the door opening 21. The marginal edge 39 ofthe flange is bent at right angles to extend rearwardly from the portion 31. The portion 31 is in planular alinement withL the' section 34 of the `outer shell with their edges terminating in spaced apart relation.

VA breaker strip extends between theA'inner and outer casings.` One edge of the breaker strip is confined within the pocket 35 and its opposite edge lies flush against the lateral flange 31; The breaker strip may be made of plastic, fibrous material, Bakelite or any non-hydroscopic, non-metallic material. Similar breaker strips are positioned along the other sides of the cabinet on the front Wall adjacent the opening 21 thereof, and immediately above the food storage compartment at 'the top of the cabinet, and also immediately below the food storage compartment.

Since the principle of attaching the breaker` strips to thecabinet and the principle of attaching the other breaker strips are the same, there is only shown in detail the breaker strip 40 and the way it is attached. L

In attaching the breaker strip it has been found that where the liner and lateral flange are coated withv vitreousenamel that threading of screws therein caused chipping of the enamel. To eliminate this and provide for means of securing the l breaker strip thereto, clips 4I are attached at 42.' To center and locate the clips 4i along the edge39 so as to be in alinement with a respective lbored passage in the breaker strip for the reception of the screws 42, the edge 39 is formed with a plurality of spaced slots 43. The side 45 of clip 4I is punched with a semi-circular opening with its edge flared inwardly, as at 49. The- The opposite edge of the breakerstrip is con- K fined in pocket 35 and secured by screws 42 to the section 34. By this arrangement the breaker strip is securedly attached to the inner and outer casing, while at the same time the inner casing or liner 22 is securedly supported by the outer casing 24. s

Toconceal the screw heads and provide a protecting cover for the breaker strip I have provided a cover 50 which extends across theK front face of the breaker strip. The cover 50;is formed of thin gauge metal, preferably .010 inches or less in thickness, and which has a low heat conductive value as stainless steel` and the like. One'edge of the cover member 50 is inserted in the pocket 35 to be frictionally held between the front wall and breaker strip. `The opposite edgel is bent to extend around the edge of the breaker strip and insertable between the lateral flange and breaker strip. The breaker strip is longitudinally grooved with an inclined side 5| against which frictionally engages the marginal edge 52 of the covermem-` ber. VThis arrangement permits a self locking of the cover over the breaker strip.

Any door of suitable construction may be used with the cabinet. As shown in the drawings, there is provided a door 29 havingan outer metallic shell 54 and an inner panel 55. 'I'he inner panel 55 may be formed of plastic, brous or other low heat conducting material. Insulation .56 is interpositioned between' the shell and panel.

Secured to the door is a gasket 58 that extends peripherally about the perimeter of the door and adapted for engagement with the front wall of the cabinet forming a seal therewith so as to prevent air entering the food storage compartment. The gasket is secured by an integrally formed tongue 59 that is clamped between the shell and panel secured together by screws 60. The heads of screws v60 are concealed vby the overlapping gasket 51. v

In the modified arrangement shown in Figs. 7 to 11 the outer casing 90 is formed witha front wall section 92. The front wall is reinforced. to a double wall thickness by welding thereto sheet metal member 94. The member` 94 extends also a determinable length alongin welded relation. with the side wall of casing 90, and thence turned to extend in spaced' parallel relation, as at 95, to the front wall. The section' 95 terminating beyond the edge of the front wall to threadably receive screws in the aftxing of the breaker strip 91. The opposite edge ofthe breaker strip is similarly secured by screws threadable into clips aiiixed to the inner liner 98 as described in the preferred form. l

In some cases it has been found desirable to provide additional means to support the inner liner to the outer casing. To this end there are provided gusset supporting arrangements |00 in each corner, which may, if desired, be also used with the already described preferred form shown in Figs. 1 yand 2. The gusset arrangement comprises a gusset plate |02 secured by weld across the corner between side and top, or side and bottom section 95. Secured by weld, and the like, to the lateral flange of the liner is a plate |04 adapted to overlie the gusset plate and be secured thereto by screw |05. A spacer |01 of non-heat conducting material is interposed between the gusset plate and plate |04.

In the arranging of the breaker strip and its respective cover member around the sides, top and bottom adjacent the door opening there are formed gaps between the adjacent adjoining members. Closing this gap is a corner strip having a face portion ||0 overlying the adjacent edges across the gap. Extending rearwardly from the face portion is a U-shaped section ||2 adapted to embrace an edge of one of the breaker strips. In the attaching of the corner strip, it is slid longitudinally along the gap with' one end entering'the pocket, and the opposite end bent to form an angular corner 4 between the adjoining breaker strips. The corner strip is thus locked in position by the U-shaped portion engaging behind a breaker strip.

In Fig. 12 there is shown a. further modified form of the invention whereby the pocket 35 is,

formed by welding a rib section |20 to the side wall of the outer casing |22 to extend parallel to the front wall |24 formed of single thickness.

While I have described the preferred forms of my invention, I do not wish-to limit myselfto the precise details as shown and described, but Wish to avail myself of such variations and modifications as may come within the scope of the ap.- pended claims.

I claim:

1. A refrigerator cabinet construction comprising inner and outer metal shells having a door opening formed therein, said shells having edge portions about the periphery of the door opening, the metal of the edge portion of the outer shell beingV bent to form a pocket and including a section extending' towardv the irmer shell, the

metal of the inner shell being bent to provide a iiange extending toward the outer shell but spaced therefrom and being arranged upon substantially the same plane, a short inturned flange carried by said flange extending rearwardly from.

said door opening in substantially parallel relation with the side wall of said inner shell, and a breaker strip of substantially the same thick` ness as the Width of said pocket secured to said shells, said breaker strip having a portion thereof extending into said pocket with its inner face in contact with said section, bracket means removably clamped about the edge of the inturned :flange and carried thereby, said bracket including a portionextending on substantially the same plane as said flange and said section, and means securing another portion of said breaker strip to said portion of the bracket and clamping said breaker strip with its face in contact with said flange. v

2. A refrigerator cabinet construction comprising inner and outer metal shells having a. door opening formed therein, said shells having edge portions about the periphery of the door opening, the metal of the edge portion of the outer shell being bent to form a pocket and including a section extending toward'the inner shell, the metal of the inner shell being bent to provide a flange extending toward the outer shell but spaced posite sides oi said inturned nange in parallel relationship therewith and having a tongue portion extending into said perforation for locking engagement with said flange, said bracket inciuding a portion extending on substantially the same plane as said flange and said section, and means securing another portion o! said breaker `strip to said portion of the bracket and clampingsaid breaker strip with its face in contact with said its inner tace in contact with said section, bracket 10 flange. means extending around the edge of and on op- MARTIN J. GOUIOZE. 

